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World Cup 2014: The politics of soccer and what's at stake in Brazil

A fan smiles while wearing Brazil 2014 shaped glasses before the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil prior to the Group A match between Brazil and Croatia at Arena de Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.Christopher Lee/Getty Images

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Football, soccer, the beautiful game - whatever you call it, it's the sport that's captivating the world right now. The 2014 World Cup kicked off Thursday in Brazil, and the action on the field isn't the only thing on people's minds.

There are massive protests in Brazil, the controversy surrounding the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar is heating up, and an internal FIFA report on match fixing leading up to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa has left many wondering if the games in Brazil are vulnerable too.